Amazon Canada unveils flexible monthly Prime membership plan

With the aim of expanding its current user base, Amazon Canada launched an alternative membership plan for Prime users.

The new monthly plan, which is priced at $7.99 per month, is an alternative to the existing annual membership for $79. The monthly option allows for a flexible payment schedule for Prime users while still enjoying the same perks and benefits.

Amazon Canada country manager Mike Strauch said Prime membership has continued to expand in Canada since its launch in 2013.

"Prime brings together the best of entertainment and shopping into a simple package at an unbelievable value for Canadians. With the launch of a monthly membership, we have added yet another easy way to enjoy Prime benefits," he said.

Prime in Canada includes benefits such as unlimited access to movies and TV shows with Prime Video, over one million songs on Prime Music, and unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos and Twitch Prime.

Prime users are also able to enjoy 30-minute early access to select Lightning deals and provided with discounts. Furthermore, Prime users can also avail of free shipping options including FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, Prime FREE One-Day Delivery in over six cities and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery in Toronto and Vancouver.

The growth of Prime users in Canada is a testament to the recent finding of industry think tank Hexa Research. According to the study, the global B2C e-commerce market is expected to realize a robust compound annual growth rate over the next seven years.

"Increasing number of mobile and internet users in the emerging markets is one of the major factors driving the market growth. In addition, rising popularity of mobile commerce (m-commerce) along with advanced payment processing and shipping options is also likely to augment the market expansion," Hexa said.